In previous blogs I proffered the opinion that music and art
are something different for different people. This idea leaves a disquieting
confusion so I organized it all into the;
Rising Scale of
Music and Art
1.On the ground level we have elevator music, muzak and all
forms of music and art that are merely for decoration or a soothing background.
Things not engaged in or paid attention to, just there to fill in the silence
or empty spaces. Here we find felt paintings, and the art the nouveau riche put
up on their living room walls.
2.Next is music and art for entertainment. The Concise Oxford
English Dictionary defines the word ‘entertain’ as follows; v. provide with
amusement or enjoyment. Interestingly the origin of the word ‘amuse’ is “from a-(expressing causal
effect)+muser ‘stare stupidly’ Thank God
there’s none of that going on anymore.
3.Above this would be music and art that holds up a mirror to
society. It gets people to wake up and see reality, in other words. In this category
we find much satire. An example would be the opera
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny composed by Kurt Weill to a German libretto by Bertolt
Brecht. Another example is A Day In TheLife Of A Fool by The Beatles.
4.Still above this is music and art, which elevates. A prime example
of this is almost any Beethoven. Here is an historical account of Beethoven’s
playing by a contemporary, Ferdinand Ries; “His extemporizations were the most extraordinary
things that one could hear. No artist that I ever heard came at all near the
height which Beethoven attained. The wealth of ideas which forced themselves on
him, the caprices to which he surrendered himself, the variety of treatment,
the difficulties, were inexhaustible.” Beethoven is just an example, which
stands out. There were many others in this category and the list is by no means
limited to so called ‘classical music.” There are many examples of music that
elevates in pop music, for example ‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ on the
St. Pepper’s album by The Beatles. It is unfortunate that music and art in this
category seems to be getting more rare and some may never have the chance to
have such an experience.
